Joshua 9-11 Conquests Continue

Thoughts

Joshua 9

News of Israel’s victories spreads and the kings west of the Jordan unite to fight Israel (the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites)

Gibeon (town of al-Jib which is in West Bank) decides to disguise themselves as travelers from a distant land.They even use worn-out supplies and clothes make their story believable.

They ask Joshua to make a peace treaty with them and Joshua agrees and guarantees their safety (even though God forbid peace treaties with Canaan in Exodus 23:32)

• King Saul will eventually break this oath in 2 Samuel 21 leading to a severe famine.

Three days later, Israel discovers the Gibeonites live nearby so they travel to the Gibeonite cities (Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim).

They did NOT seek God’s counsel.

The leaders uphold the treaty but make the Gibeonites servants (woodcutters and water carriers).

Joshua 10

Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, hears about Israel’s victories and the treaty with Gibeon.

He forms an alliance of five southern Amorite kings:

• Jerusalem
• Hebron
• Jarmuth
• Lachish
• Eglon

They decide to attack Gibeon as a warning to Israel.

The Lord tells Joshua, “Do not be afraid… I have delivered them into your hand” and Joshua launches a surprise attack after an all-night march.

• This march would have been over 20 miles!

God causes confusion and hurls large hailstones from the sky and more die from hail than by the sword.

Joshua also prays for sun and moon to stand still “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” and “The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.”

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? – what

The kings hide in a cave at Makkedah and Joshua orders the cave sealed with stones until the battle ends.

Later, the kings are brought out, executed, and hung on trees until evening, then buried in the cave.

Joshua leads Israel to conquer a series of cities:

• Makkedah
• Libnah
• Lachish (resists for 2 days)
• Gezer (comes to help Lachish but is defeated)
• Eglon
• Hebron
• Debir

Joshua 11

With the south defeated, it was time to move north.

Jabin, king of Hazor calls together kings from the north (Madon, Shimron, Acshaph, and others) to form a huge army

They met at the waters of Merom to fight Israel. This was Israel’s biggest battle yet.

Joshua and his army launch a surprise attack and Israel defeats them completely, 

Joshua captures Hazor, the head of all these kingdoms and kills its king and people. Hazor is then burned to the ground. 

Joshua takes control of:

• The hill country
• The Negev
• The western foothills
• The mountain slopes
• All regions and kings

War probably went on for several years.

Anakim (giants) are also destroyed from Hebron, Debir, and Anab, who had frightened the spies making them wander for 40 years in the first place. 

Questions

Why would Joshua not talk to God? He’s right there with them?

How did Israel really suffer from disobeying God about Gibeon? Seems like they got free servants.

What is the book of Jashar?

Was the stopping of the sun purely divine with no explanation or did God use something like slowing the earth’s rotation or using a different source of light?

Application

Don’t make decisions without God. Israel didn’t consult God in chapter 9 with Gibeon, even after all they have saw God do for them. But in the very next chapter when they let God take control, they see His amazing power destroying the multitude of enemy forces. When we move without God, we stumble. God has given us unlimited access to Him and we are foolish not to take advantage of this gift.